I have been wanting to read this classic story for many years as I have never read it. I wasn’t disappointed as Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a pretty good story about pirates and their detrimental lifestyle; Mr. Stevenson wrote a true to life descriptive narrative about these international seafaring “gentlemen of fortune.” Several characters in the story expressed strong opinions on the degenerate members of society.
As with most novels, “Treasure Island” has its share of hidden messages. There are several “floating” about in this story, the most obvious of which was the corruption of greed; another was doing the right things in life. These messages were obviously geared towards his reading audience … impressionable teenaged boys. Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” was first serialized in a magazine for that particular targeted audience, and was filled with the things that interested his young readers. But his intriguing story also contains his primary message, which served as a warning to his captivated audience … stay on the “straight and narrow” course “mates.” The lifestyle of the pirate will be that of much regret … there’s no future in a life of adventure except one of misery, ending in a horrible death.
Stevenson used his character, Long John Silver to explain the pirate lifestyle; it was Silver who called themselves “gentlemen of fortune” while rebuking those of his peers who squandered their “earnings” away in three weeks. Silver, a man of 50, mentioned he had a great deal of his money safely hidden away… “I puts it all away, some here, some there, and none too much anywheres, by reason of suspicion. I’m fifty, mark you; once back from this cruise, I set up gentleman in earnest. Time enough too, says you. Ah, but I’ve lived easy in the meantime, never denied myself o’ nothing heart desires, and slep’ soft and ate dainty all my days but when at sea.” Although Silver gives his cohorts "good advice” concerning their earnings, he never mentioned his fortune was “earned” illegally. Silver bragged about living comfortably in his retirement, but he will ultimately answer to a higher authority.
“Treasure Island” was written in 1883, but by changing a few elements in the story, it would continue to be relevant today … human nature has not changed since Cain murdered Able. Stevenson makes several references to God and the Bible in his story; it is quite clear that the pirates in “Treasure Island” were under a satanic influence … this was another of Stevenson’s underlying messages that is found throughout his story, the use of which clearly show he was a gifted writer. His most famous story continues to be a classic with its underlying meaning just as relevant today as it was 141 years ago.
“Treasure Island” is an excellent story that kept me captivated from start to finish. *****